Analysis of The Lass Of Cessnock Banks

Robert Burns 1759 (Alloway) – 1796 (Dumfries)



On Cessnock banks a lassie dwells,
    Could I describe her shape and mien!
Our lasses a' she far excels---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

She's sweeter than the morning dawn,
    When rising Phoebus first is seen,
And dew-drops twinkle o'er the lawn---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

She's stately like yon youthful ash,
    That grows the cowslip braes between,
And drinks the stream with vigour fresh---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

She's spotless like the flow'ring thorn,
    With flow'rs so white and leaves so green,
When purest in the dewy morn---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her looks are like the vernal May,
    When ev'ning Phoebus shines serene,
While birds rejoice on every spray---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her hair is like the curling mist,
    That climbs the mountain-sides at e'en,
When flower-reviving rains are past---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her forehead's like the show'ry bow,
    When gleaming sunbeams intervene,
And gild the distant mountain's brow---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her cheeks are like yon crimson gem,
    The pride of all the flowery scene,
Just opening on its thorny stem---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her bosom's like the nightly snow,
    When pale the morning rises keen,
While hid the murm'ring streamlets flow---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her lips are like yon cherries ripe,
    That sunny walls from Boreas screen:
They tempt the taste and charm the sight
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her teeth are like a flock of sheep,
    With fleeces newly washen clean,
That slowly mount the rising steep---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her breath is like the fragrant breeze,
    That gently stirs the blossom'd bean,
When Phoebus sinks behind the seas---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her voice is like the ev'ning thrush,
    That sings on Cessnock banks unseen,
While his mate sits nestling in the bush---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

But it's not her air, her form, her face,
    Tho matching Beauty's fabled Queen:
'Tis the mind that shines in ev'ry grace---
    An chiefly in her rogueish een!


Scheme abaB cbcB xbxB dbdB ebeB xxxB fbfB gbgB hbhB xbxB ibiB jbjB xbxB kbkb
Poetic Form Quatrain 
Metre 1110101 11010101 10101101 11111011 11010101 11010111 011101001 11111011 11011101 11010101 0101111 11111011 11010111 11110111 11000101 11111011 01110101 11110101 110111001 11111011 01110101 110101111 110010111 11111011 011011 110101 01010101 11111011 01111101 011101001 110011101 11111011 0110101 11010101 110111 11111011 01111101 1101111 11010101 11111011 01110111 1101011 11010101 11111011 01110101 11010101 11010101 11111011 01110111 1111101 111110001 11111011 111010101 1101101 10111011 1100011
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 2,254
Words 367
Sentences 16
Stanzas 14
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 56
Letters per line (avg) 29
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 118
Words per stanza (avg) 26
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:55 min read
108

Robert Burns

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist. more…

All Robert Burns poems | Robert Burns Books

11 fans

Discuss this Robert Burns poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "The Lass Of Cessnock Banks" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/30577/the-lass-of-cessnock-banks>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    3
    days
    5
    hours
    18
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    How many syllables an Iambic Pentameter line must have?
    A 10
    B 12
    C 20
    D 3